Tiger 800c:
I've done over 16000 kms on Pirelli Scorpion Trails. 2 Rear Tyres and 1 front.
The last couple of rides out on my Tiger have been a little hair raising to say the least, I've tried different tyre pressures, chain slack, checked swingarm bearings, headstock bearings and lastly changed my body position.
I was getting handle bar shakes going over seams on the highway, cornering was a bit nerve wrecking, two rides ago I lost the front twice - but put it down to cold roads.
Having a look at the Trails, the rear had a flat on it, still had decent tread - enough for a run in the rain. The front looked worn, but nothing spectacular, apart from cracks appearing down inside the tread troughs. By looking I would have estimated another 2-3 thousand km's left on 'em.
Last weekend I got fed up and decided to stick some fresh rubber on. I wanted Bridgestone 023's but couldn't find a matching pair and wasn't keen about running a mismatch of a 57 and a 23. Next choice was Michelin Pilot Road 3's (pure on road tyre though), no rears in stock anywhere. Only tyre available that I would consider was the Michelin Anakee 3's.*
*Front wheel profile changed. Now running the 110/80.
Okay, jump on my phone and start reading the advertising blurb while the tyre-monger stands there picking his nose....
Supposedly good wet grip, great dry grip and OMG-you-wont-believe-it distance. Yeah yeah.
Right let's stick 'em on.
After an hour or so I helped them put my bike back together, jeez Full Throttle should invest in a course for their tyre mechanices. Sigh. The only time you need a hammer to change a wheel is to bliksem the sh!t out of the mechanic who went to fetch it.
Okay, off for a ride. Bike feels rather sluggish on cornering, as if I'm working overtime to make it turn in, however the confidence is greatly increased.
Get back home and check the pressures once they've cooled down. Everything is low. Really low. 2.1 front, 2.5 rear. (bar)
Off for a run today, bit of gravel roads and plenty of tar. Pressures correctly set (for me) @ 2.35 front, 2.8 rear.
Bike is really light on turning again, but the confidence is still there. No more head shakes, scraping boots and footpegs again.
The ride quality has improved ever so slightly, there could be more road noise but I dunno, I wear ear plugs.
Gravel roads is MUCH better, more feeling, less floating. Power slides are p1ss easy to control now, no need to fight the bars.
This is the best part of the gravel, do about 160 down there no problem.
So you can see the treads, Michelin's tread within a tread:
All in all pretty happy, bit pricey mind. R2850.00 fitted.
Will update on wet grip when it rains, probably Decemeber.
...
I've done over 16000 kms on Pirelli Scorpion Trails. 2 Rear Tyres and 1 front.
The last couple of rides out on my Tiger have been a little hair raising to say the least, I've tried different tyre pressures, chain slack, checked swingarm bearings, headstock bearings and lastly changed my body position.
I was getting handle bar shakes going over seams on the highway, cornering was a bit nerve wrecking, two rides ago I lost the front twice - but put it down to cold roads.
Having a look at the Trails, the rear had a flat on it, still had decent tread - enough for a run in the rain. The front looked worn, but nothing spectacular, apart from cracks appearing down inside the tread troughs. By looking I would have estimated another 2-3 thousand km's left on 'em.
Last weekend I got fed up and decided to stick some fresh rubber on. I wanted Bridgestone 023's but couldn't find a matching pair and wasn't keen about running a mismatch of a 57 and a 23. Next choice was Michelin Pilot Road 3's (pure on road tyre though), no rears in stock anywhere. Only tyre available that I would consider was the Michelin Anakee 3's.*
*Front wheel profile changed. Now running the 110/80.
Okay, jump on my phone and start reading the advertising blurb while the tyre-monger stands there picking his nose....
Supposedly good wet grip, great dry grip and OMG-you-wont-believe-it distance. Yeah yeah.
Right let's stick 'em on.
After an hour or so I helped them put my bike back together, jeez Full Throttle should invest in a course for their tyre mechanices. Sigh. The only time you need a hammer to change a wheel is to bliksem the sh!t out of the mechanic who went to fetch it.
Okay, off for a ride. Bike feels rather sluggish on cornering, as if I'm working overtime to make it turn in, however the confidence is greatly increased.
Get back home and check the pressures once they've cooled down. Everything is low. Really low. 2.1 front, 2.5 rear. (bar)
Off for a run today, bit of gravel roads and plenty of tar. Pressures correctly set (for me) @ 2.35 front, 2.8 rear.
Bike is really light on turning again, but the confidence is still there. No more head shakes, scraping boots and footpegs again.
The ride quality has improved ever so slightly, there could be more road noise but I dunno, I wear ear plugs.
Gravel roads is MUCH better, more feeling, less floating. Power slides are p1ss easy to control now, no need to fight the bars.
This is the best part of the gravel, do about 160 down there no problem.
So you can see the treads, Michelin's tread within a tread:
All in all pretty happy, bit pricey mind. R2850.00 fitted.
Will update on wet grip when it rains, probably Decemeber.
...
.
? 
